CLEVELAND, OH (DECEMBER 11, 2015) – Forty Cuyahoga County artists working in the disciplines of craft, dance, design, literature, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts will each receive $15,000 in 2016 through the Creative Workforce Fellowship. A total of $600,000 in Fellowships were awarded today by the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC), the local arts service and research organization that operates the program. The organization’s board of trustees approved the awards, which are made possible by the residents of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, the County’s public funder for arts and culture.
“This group of Fellowship recipients is an incredibly accomplished and diverse set of artists focused on exploring themes of contemporary relevance,” noted Valerie Schumacher, director of artist services at CPAC. “From work focused on safety, violence and war to racial, gender and sexual identity, these artists are presenting a new lens and safe space to explore our world.”
CPAC’s president and CEO, Tom Schorgl agrees, “These Creative Workforce Fellows are providing new opportunities for residents and visitors alike to engage with a wide array of art forms. Their work is contributing to youth education and a heightened awareness of our environment, community and place. The work these artists make is intelligent, playful, striking and skillful. CPAC is fortunate to be able to support this talented group of individuals through a grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.”
More than 400 artists submitted applications for Fellowships, which were reviewed anonymously in two groups, based upon discipline. The two panels were comprised of professional artists from across the United States based on recommendations from CPAC & CAC’s national peers. The top 40 applications in each review group were discussed in open panel meetings in November. The top 20 scoring applications in each group—a total of 40 artists—were recommended for Fellowships.
Grants are designed to further each artist’s work and to connect them more broadly and deeply with the community. Each artist will hold a public activity in 2016 to engage directly with residents and showcase their work. Starting in 2016, visit
CPAC's website to learn more.
View the news story about the Creative Workforce Fellowship on Cleveland.com.
In January 2016, the public is invited to meet the 40 recipients and celebrate their creative works and accomplishments at a reception hosted by CPAC and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Details will be released the week of December 21st and tickets will be available for
purchase online.
ABOUT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR ARTS AND CULTURE (CPAC): Communities thrive through arts and culture. This is what drives the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture. CPAC serves arts and culture professionals, community leaders and visionaries, who are shaping greater Cleveland. CPAC’s research and advocacy helps leaders and decision-makers stay informed. Our training, online programs and customized advice build ideas, skills and connections for those we serve. CPAC brings people together and inspires purposeful action in the community. All of this work ensures arts and culture is a continued force for making greater Cleveland an even better place to live, work and visit. For more information, please visit www.CultureForward.org.
ABOUT CUYAHOGA ARTS & CULTURE (CAC): Cuyahoga Arts & Culture’s mission is to inspire and strengthen the community by investing in arts and culture.Cuyahoga County residents created Cuyahoga Arts & Culture in 2006 when they approved a tax on cigarettes to support arts and culture in our community.In 2015, the community affirmed its commitment to arts and culture by extending the tax through 2027 with Issue 8. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture has invested more than $140 million in more than 300 organizations to deliver on the promise made to support thousands of enriching arts and culture experiences in every corner of the county.In addition, CAC supported 161 Cuyahoga County artists through the Creative Workforce Fellowship since 2009. For more information, visit www.cacgrants.org.